Win or go home... Tonight thats for real.
COME ON LAKERS!!

Come on LAKERS!!!! Show us some EFFORT!!!

LOL,

Yeah, the Suns playing defense.

That's a good one.

Edwin said:
"As you can see, Kobe is doing what the Coach expected from him. You don't have to read the blog to get that news but on the clips of Mike Bresnahan articles. I give Kobe a tremendous credit that without his efforts, this Laker team will not be in the 7th seed, I think he's no longer selfish or immature as he was before. If ever he takes many shots in the closing minutes, he's trying his best to make the team competitive. Try to review Games 2 & 4, you will see that Kobe was distributing the ball but his teammates kept on missing shots and committing T/O's. That's the reason why I cautioned you to be fair and factual with your analysis on Kobe. He is the only moving parts right now the other spark plugs are dead while the others are like an old train run by coal emitting black smokes chug! chug! chug! chug!....they were the trains during the Civil War era in Southern California. "

Ed (can I call you that?), i respect your opinion and I don't necessarily disagree nor do I agree. I will say that kobe has demonstrated that he's not AS selfish or AS immature, but now the dynamics have changed in LA. He's the guy now, no more Shaq to take the criticism or blame. I have yet to see kobe take responsibility for the team. kobe blames the coaching staff for the “strategy”, then blame his guys for “lack of talent”. I don’t see kobe say, this is my team and I’m responsible. As for kobe doing what the coaching staff says, the cornerstone of the triple post is passing and movement, but too often I see kobe dribble the ball 7-10 times (cross over, between the legs, pivot), then make a bad pass or take a bad shot. then kobe complains that the guys aren’t stepping up. the leader of the team is responsible for making other guys better……….that’s what real MVPs do. everytime I hear dumbass kobe fans chant “kobe MVP”, I think to myself, kobe’s not going to get it because everybody “loves” kobe and commentators proclaim kobe as the “greatest on the planet”. those things are fine, but LA’s gotta win. so far LA under kobe’s reign as king is a .500 team and 3 embarrassing seasons which the LAC and GS have overshadowed the Lake Show. not in a million years would i think LAC or GS be a better team than the Lakers.

i still say let kobe go nuts in Game 5. kobe 101!

PUT KOBE AT THE POINT AND THAT IS THE ANSWER GOING INTO THE GAME TONIGHT. THEY CAN'T STOP THAT IF EVANS IS AT THE 2.

WHO WILL NASH STICK???????????????

COME ON PHIL!!!
COACH THIS TEAM TO VICTORY.
WE HAVE ALL THE INGREDIENTS TO DO IT

forget about this season it was a disaster, and I'm glad it's over tonight

Anyway this is the LEAST I expect the lakers to do during the offseason:

1. Let Smush go
2. Sign Blake from the Nuggets by any means possible
3. Trade lamar for Jermaine O'neil even if this means giving up Andrew "the next Eric Dampier" Bynum

Repost:

AK/BK,

I have a question you may or may have an answer for. Are there limits for restructuring ones contract? For example, if Kobe wanted to defer 10 million of his contract to say 2010 could the Lakers then use that 10 million to sign a player?

And, do you prefer soft or firm toothbrushes? I like the firm ones, even tough they usually draw a bit of blood.

Wes

Ohh I forgot and for those of you who keep criticizing phil jackson:: shut up!!...what do you expect him to do with this group of "players"? Just take a look at Devean George who used to be an integral part in last year's playoff against Phoenix: he has been Dog Meat this year playing against Golden State.

It's just not realistic that the sashas, kwames, smushes of the world are going to beat a team loaded with excellent players plus the best point guard since Magic Johnson

Kl The Beast, "let Kobe go nuts"
Well Beast, I relayed your message to Kobe and he said he will dedicate
this game to you.

Mamba24... great post... I agree 100% and I LOVE that anthem.

Dev... I asked myself the same damn question... we're definitely missing "All of the above".

Vman... I read that article too and it isn't saying anything we don't already know...

To my beloved Lakers.... please, please, please go out and play like you've never played before. WE NEED THE LAKERS IN THE FINALS THIS YEAR.

On a side note... is anyone enjoying the ass whooping Dallas is getting. They are definitely out in the first round and I love it... great season but they always choke in the playoffs.

I love the fact that Dallas and Miami are not longer in the playoff picture. #1 because they both suck. #2 because it gives the underdogs a chance to get to the top.

Mamba's back... where the hell have you been??

We're sure to win tonight now!!

Mamba calls roll, and I have to work again tonight.
That seems to be the winning formula.

Lakers will prevail by 7 and bring it back home,

GO LAKE SHOW!!

Wesjoe,

Unless I'm mistaken, Kobe can't defer any pay or restructure anything. NBA contracts don't work that way.

AK

BD great comments!!!. I don't understand why if this franchise is taking a break or it's just thinking about the future...why season ticket holders and fans don't get a break too and still have to pay the highest prices in the NBA to watch this "product". It's ridiculous

Vman,

I don't know about that study, to perform such cursory survey on calls between black and white players, that was a tedious work to watch all games and just concentrate on referees.

I think the black and white refs. are color blind. Some are just dumb and proud to be dumb. They arbitrarily blew their whistles on the slightest touch and ignore real fouls on a player assaulting another player, "unintentional" kicking or breaking the limbs of another player. Since he did not blow his whistle, he stand by it or else he will lose his creditbility as a referee. That's human nature in trying to protect a reputation by hiding the little truth. The only way you could correct this problem is to use technological instruments to detect the bad calls. Every week a supervisor will review with these referees their performance during the week and given a grade based on good and bad calls. Therefore, the future of each referee will be based on how he performed on a given period. As such, based on techonological training all referees will have a solid understanding of how rules should be interpreted uniformly reducing biases and misinterpretations.

Being referees, their pay are not commensurate to players salaries. Each team should give these referees TIPS 10% across the board (taken from the players contract) in addition to what referees are paid per game. if one can give 15 % to a waiter or waitress for taking and delivering the food on your table, to a limo driver bringing you to the airport, to a doorman who is opening doors for you, why not give something to these referees who are part of your basketball career? It is not a payola or a greese money because all teams will give them equally.

Mamba24,

Not to worry, the true ending depends upon how they do tonight.

In a way I hope they lose, because what I'm worried about is that the front office will think this team can contend with the top teams, when we know that they can't.

I just want KG to come already.

BRYANT/GARNETT '08

Why is it that those who claim to hate the Lakers are always on this blog?

If the Lakers are eliminated, what the hell are we going to watch? Here's a snapshot of what would be left...

In the WEST...

GS Warriors vs. T-Mac's Rockets ... (The Rockets are one back spasm away from oblivion - rootin' for the Warriors since they've shown the most heart in the league so far)

Suns vs. San Antonio... the young bloods vs. the Texas geriatric squad (I'm picking the Suns just because I find Tm Duncan and the Spurs to be the most boring team in the league and I don't think they can catch Barbosa down the court)

In the EAST...

Pistons vs. Bulls... nothing interesting to watch other than the Ben/Pistons drama. I take the Pistons based on pure playoff experience although they better watch out for the "have nothing to lose" Baby Bulls.

Cavs vs. Nets... Are you kidding me? This will be a dunking contest between the overrated and overly dramatic Lebron James and the geriatric version of Lebron in Vince Carter.

So ultimately it will get down to Suns vs. Pistons in the finals.....UGGGHHHH, I'm dizzy already.... two run and gun teams who play no defense. The highlights will sound something like "The Pistons edged the Suns in a 250-248 win in game 6 of the playoffs.

PLEASE LAKERS... SAVE THE NBA... ADVANCE...ADVANCE...ADVANCE!

If Lakers win tonight , probably we will see a game 7 .

I just can't wait for it to be over this year. Whenever that is. I will cheer for my team tonight, and probably be disappointed as usual. Personally, I believe Gerald Wallace is the best option for this team to persue in the free agent market, and if they can't get him, they must try and get someone like JO or KG, at almost any cost. There will be vets out there willing to come to the Lakers if they see management make a move that shows commitment to winning now. They have to stop planning for the future, and start planning for right now. Laker fans and season ticket holders demand a quality product because of sustained success in the past, and they won't stop that anytime soon. Keep s few of those young guys, but we can't keep looking so far forward, because other teams are good and will continue to be for a while. Well . . . Go Lakers. Man it feels so half-hearted now. Let's just throw the game and get started with the off-season.

Reluctantly Sweating it out
Live from Dune
LkrFan

MAMBA24 ~
We'll bring it back home. LAKERS will win tonight.

Tonight we dine in hell?

as much as i dont want the season to be over...i hope it ends tonight...i love the lakers as much as the next guy...but this is terrible....the lakers have a history and tradition of winning and anything less is unacceptable....that way the front office stops smoking their crack and saying that this team is good enough to compete when healthy...what a joke...bring some help...

and on top of that there are reports that bynum said he was 'tired' hahaha some cornerstone and future of the franchise...what a chump...he hasnt even played a full season and hes already tired...what a JOKE of a player

keys to winning tonight

1. dont play bynum
2. effort
3. defense
4. effort
5. effort
6. dont play smush
7. did i mention dont play bynum already?

and even with that i think fakerz is pretty right with his predicition...i say lakers 90 suns 114

that way the offseason can start and we can wait for nothing again as the lakers top brass plays grab ass with each other rather than securing talent...FIRE CUPCAKE...GROUND JIM BUSS...bring back west...

honestly if they are gonna do nothing they might as well hire me and pay me the money...at least ill try to put deals together rather than thinkin this crap team will compete

i get more and more infuriated everytime i see players the lakers had a chance to get flourishing...

KL, the beast,

I didn't expect that you will copy the whole post. Anyway, thank you for agreeing in some observations, I think that's one positive that we can start with.

With regards to the dribbling between the legs or at the back, that's like a fish wiggling his gills and tail to avoid being swallowed by a shark. Good basketball players do that, they try to find an opening, studying the body language of their opponents, thinking of the next move while the corner of their eyes are looking at the peripheral view where he could pass the ball in case he gets trapped. I think 75% Kobe gets it done and we're amazed by the degree of difficulty he did it, sometimes he fails just like any human with 2 or 3 guards in front of him or his teammates failed to free himself from their own guards. Therefore, you have to appreciate the ART itself, the degree of difficulty in evading, thinking for the next shot, bailing out by submitting his body to be fouled. Of course, I do not agree also when he complains too much on non calls but hopefully, you see the flow in the decisions involved on those dribbling. Well, another way of looking at it, the only way the triangle becomes effective is when he attract guard to him, freeing his other teammates like Smush or Farmar, Walton, Odom and Kwame. Except for Odom, the other four players mentioned what happens next when they get the ball without any guards in front of them, they BRICK(ED) IT - that's the story of Kobe's low assists. Horry, Fisher and Fox are gone

Lakers will be done for the season and go home tonight.

OK, now I have said it.

I just don't see how Lakers is going to win, unless they are playing 120% of their talents (if they have any other than what Kobe and Lamar can offer) and Suns 80% of their skills.
1) Suns is a better team
2) They surely have more fire powers than we do
3) It is their home court
4) Looks like Lamar, Kawmee, Luke and Kobe are all injured now

Of course, Lakers got one motivating force: desperation, but desperation doesn't equal a win unless it is combined with execution. Can Lakers excute both on the offensive and defensive ends? Big question!

I am not holding my expectation high for tonight, so I won't be falling too deep into the abyse of disillusion and disappointment.

Then, it happened a lot of times when I sai something in the open, the end result would turn out just the opposite. That is a trick of life the way how it works I have never been able to figure out. So I am saying out loud Lakers will lose, and who knows, somehow life will play the trick again this time and things will turn out just the other way.

When I expect too much out of something, most of the time I would end being terribly disappointed. When I don't expect much, lots of times I would be pleasantly surprised. And this is how I am going to watch tonight's game, without much expectatoin but be ready for a happy surprise and thrilled.

Phil needs to play kobe at point to start the game and put evans on the wing! Lets go lakers.....we can do this! Have some Pride! F>>> the Suns....even if they win the series, they will not win the championship.....not going to happen!!!

Go Lakers

Warriors should have won last night, 9 points lead with only 3 minutes left. But they settled too much fo jump shots in those final minute, missed again and again, leaving the door wide open for Mav's come back who attacked the boards, scored,got free throws while stopping the time. Made me wonder if they were actually throwing the game away, so they can close the serires on their home court.

Andrew Z

I agree I like that line up to...I think kobe can take Nash!

Let dothis Lakers......Whipp some butt

I say we win tonigh and bring it home (their home that is, I'm in Boston) on Friday! Kobe has way too much pride to go down like this. We have to fight our assess off to get to game 7.

I do agree that we have to make some moves in the offseason but lets' work with what we have now. I say... keep Kwame -aka butter hands - Brown off the floor. He irritates the hell out of me. A man that big who can't catch the damn ball. Keep's Smush's nasty attitute off the court and poor Jordan Farmar... he's been good during the season for us but he seems a little intimidated in the playoffs...give him a pass, he's only a rookie.

We definitely have to do our best to get Garnett or O'neil as a 2nd option during the offseason. No joke Mr. Buss. My patience is running thin.

BK,

Just wanted to let you know that you (and this blog) were quoted on ESPN.com's True Hoop by Henry Abbott. I think he does a hell of a job so its pretty cool that he included you in his latest entry. Keep up the good work!

Hey BK, you got a honorable mention in ESPN TrueHoop:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-24-7/Lakers-on-the-Razor-s-Edge.html

You better not jinx our chances (As if).

KL "The other half, i'm an asshole...",
Naw man, I'd never call you that.
It took me little time to figure out where you
were coming from, but you're cool.

THE TIME HAS COME TO DISMISS THE LA HAS-BEEN FRANCHISE

NEXT STEP TO THE 2007 NBA FINALS

STEVE "I AM THE GREATNESS" GNASH AND THE SUNS SIDE OF THE FORCE

VS.

PHIL "FUNNY HOW I CANT SEEM TO WIN A PLAYOFF SERIES W/O SHAQ OR MJ" JACKSON AND HIS SLUGS AND EARTHWORMS

7.7 HOURS

I am so sick and tired of people categorizing an MVP by the way he makes the other players better. That is a load of crap people... the greatest players in the history of the NBA have all had great supporting casts to go along with each of their attributes... Kobe does NOT.

Kobe is the best player in the NBA, hands down. You cannot take him out of the MVP ranks and penalize him because management has failed to put great pieces to assist him. It shouldn't be his or any other players responsibility to make the others better...they've gotta come out and be great on their own. Steve Nash makes great passes but if his teammates aren't good enough to finish (like Kwame Brown), is that a knock on Steve Nash?

I understand the team concept but take any good team with an exceptional player who leads the team (Steve Nash, D.Wade, C. Billups, Nowitzki, etc.). Take away that star player and their teams can still win witout them. Take Kobe away from the Lakers and we're dogmeat people.

Hey, for this game, there's a positive spin to the old cliche...win and go home (for Game 6).

Laker Dilemma-

Win tonight and make a series of it and management will be convinced they are close to an "elite" team without injuries

or

Lose tonight and make some personnel changes in the offseason.

My guess is the longer the lakers stay in the playoffs the less chance of seeing any significant personnel changes.

Its going to be an interestin offseason but I dont see who other than Kobe any other team would want at this point.

Odom- injured
Bynum- young and his potential seriously in doubt
Luke- a nice role player- not a starter
Smush- bye bye Smush
Cook- one dimensional inconsistent shooter
Evans- I like his game at times but his 3s drive me nuts- thats 9 rings fault for not insisiting he stop shooting
Sasha- 5 oclock shooter, zero trade value
Turiaf- I like what i see, you know when hes in the game, blocking shots, reobounding of fouling, I cant figure out why he didnt get more minutes this season.
Mckie- Is he still on the roster?
Vlad- made more headlines with snowboarding that basketball
S Williams- decent role player but honestly what team would want him in a trade?
Kwame- with his history of injuries and inconsistent play, what team wants him?

Its not looking good laker fans. Even more reason the deal for Kid should have been made.

"Kobe is the best player in the NBA, hands down. You cannot take him out of the MVP ranks and penalize him because management has failed to put great pieces to assist him."

THere are times when Kobe could do a better job of altering his game to help his teammates optimize their games. That is what is meant by "making your teammates better." He hasn't figured out how to do that (or chosen to do that?) as much as he could. It still wouldn't make this team a title contender, though.

"Beast"

On this team Kobe could pass all day and if the others don't make the OPEN shots it doesn't make them any better, us any better and so on... One player can not make another player better it is upon that player to make himself ready for the game, the shots, that winning edge. If Kobe hasn't lead by example this year by his preparation, work ethic and leadership what can he do for a young group of guys who seem to be content driving high-end SUV's and making the league? You have to want and work for greatness, just playing beside Kobe won't do much for you if you're not working on improving your game like he continues to do. Luke Walton was an example of working in the off season to improve his game. Kobe would have been considered just another flashy kid had he not continued to improve his game. Remember the airballs against Utah? Kobe went from the one you don't want to shot to the guy who you want taking the final shot. Bottom line others have to step up and finish plays or its just an attempted failure..

Must hurt to watch your once-mighty franchise crumble before the overwhelming power of the superior SUNS. We enjoy sending y'all california dreamers deep sea fishing every year. A most satisfying pleasure. Too bad your star player has a leadership inadequacy. Steve Nash embodies everything that is great in basketball, Kobe...well, he's just Kobe.

Your trials are only beginning with the season ending loss tonite. Sit back and enjoy the Suns run to their first title. By dispatching the lakers, it will be all the more memorable, all the sweeter. Go ahead, it's alright to cry.

Here's a possible trade:

Teams involved: Lakers, Denver, Toronto

Lakers:
Incoming: Marcus Camby, Jose Calderon
Outgoing: Kwame Brown, Maurice Evans

Denver:
Incoming: Anthony Parker, Maurice Evans
Outgoing: Marcus Camby, Linas Kleiza

Toronto:
Incoming: Kwame Brown, Linas Kleiza
Outgoing: Anthony Parker, Jose Calderon

We get an upgrade at center and point guard, solving two major problems. Rebounding goes up, and defense goes up. Camby is the DPOY and averaged 11/11 this year. Calderon averaged 8.7ppg, and more importantly, 5.0apg. Also, his numbers in the playoffs are up to over 12ppg.

The benefits for Toronto are that they upgrade their center position, with an expiring contract just in case it doesn't work out. They also replace Anthony Parker with Linas Kleiza. These two players are very similar. Anthony Parker produces a little more, but Kleiza is paid way less.

The benefits for Denver are that they use one of their three centers to get help at the two and three positions, including strong defense at the two (Mo Evans), which they sorely need.

Overall, I think the trade works for everyone, though the Lakers come out on top.

First of all, It's this whole culture of entitlement here in L.A. All that Hollywood bulls--t. I look at the fans up in Oakland and I think, man, we used to be that passionate. Now it's like being fans is what we do in our down time. I really feel disgusted with where it's all gone, have been since Chick passed.

Player wise, how do you teach someone to be hungry about winning? It's really hard to explain. Look at teams like Detroit and San Antonio, who have had alot of success for many years. How do they stay motivated? It's gotta start with management and coaching. Let's reshape this once-superior dynasty.

We can start by spending alot of money to bring Jerry West back. Give him whatever the hell he wants. I trust him more than anyone in the game right now. Second thing, I know he's talking about retiring, but spend some money on big-shot Rob, bring him back to L.A. That might be hard. Who in their right mind would wanna step into the abyss that is Laker basketball after being in an organization like San Antonio? We need outstanding role players in the mold of B Shaw, Ronnie Harper, etc. They are out there, bring them home.

EastCoastJessie,

I concur that the SUNS won't win a championship this year or any other until they think defense first and offence last. Sure the SUNS are a great run and gun offensive team, but history proves that defense always over shadows offense any day. The SUNS are definitely delusional into thinking they'll earn a championship this year.

If the Raptors and Dallas can win their game 5 from being down 3-1, why can’t the Lakers?

GO LAKERS!

HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO PROVE ANYONE WRONG!

Goooooooooooooooooooooo LAKERS!

Mike T,

'preciate it, man. Now that you mention it, yeah, crank up the passion.

Exhelodrvr,

OK, but what color were the refs? And was one a woman? and on and on. Actually, I'm just prejudice against the Miami franchise that got our old coach, MDE and subsequent ring. Nothin' rational about it.

Edwin,

I like it. Tip 'em. 20% of course...

If all of this is true... it looks like we'll be looking at an entirely new team next year... ALMOST anyway. I love Lamar but it's about winning here.

KTLA 5: "To paraphrase an old Beatles song from "Magical Mystery Tour", L.O., goodbye. L.O. is Lamar Odom and the Lakers may have to say goodbye to their long and gifted but enigmatic 6-10 forward. That's because the tag team of superstar Kobe Bryant and sidekick Odom has not been able to take the Lakers to the next level, and so the patience of owner Jerry Buss figures to be wearing rather thin. It's also because if the Lakers are to make a major offseason move (see Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal), they'll almost inevitably need Odom's $14 million per year salary as a bargaining chip."

Riverside Press-Enterprise: "Lakers coach Phil Jackson's representatives and LA general manager Mitch Kupchak agreed to continue contract extension talks after the season. Jackson has one year left after this season on a three-year, $30 million deal that pays him $10 million per season. Jackson has said his health is fine, so he has to decide if he wants to keep coaching a team that has been mediocre the past two seasons and may continue to be that way if the Lakers don't make substantial upgrades."

Riverside Press-Enterprise: "Luke Walton wants to come back and probably will be asked to return. He'll look to get a contract that pays about $5 million per season. Chris Mihm missed the entire season after having two surgeries on his right ankle. Mihm said he wants to return but knows he won't get the $4.2 million he is earning this season. Smush Parker probably won't be asked back. Shammond Williams has shown some promise, but he may go back to Europe and Aaron McKie probably will retire."

Lakers need to get rid of:

L.Odom - love this guy, but love KG even more
Smush - He's already gone
Kwame - butterfingers
Bynum - bright future, but need him as a trading chip
Radman - no comment
Vujacic - no comment either

Add/Resign:

KG?
Kidd?
Earl Boykins?
Kapono?
Resign Walton?

Mamba24,

I'm here for the roll call... don't you worry, I will be cheering my heart out for the Lakers to win this one.

Maybe Kobe and Phil can do a special prayer... like Sampson, "just this one last time" and watch them both hit their all-time stride in one last blaze of glory that leaves the US Airways Center in shambles...

That's all I'm asking!

Re: Biased Refs

There's nothing new under the sun. Refs are human, therefore they ARE biased. This does not mean it's purposeful though. That study, while interesting, doesn't designate the color of the ref who actually made the call, though over 13 seasons, they're just looking for a correlation. They found a correlation. The overall discrepency was something like 2 or 4 percent, very small. However, we all know there are more factors than just color.

Kobe's complaining of non-calls doesn't put that edge on his side, so he always faces a slight disadvantage than his NBA status would ordinarily dictate. Wade's phantom calls, on the other hand, are perhaps a direct result of everyone feeling he's a lovable hardworking guy (true) and he's also the saving grace of the NBA (not true).

There are more psychological factors than JUST color. It's just that color is an easy arbitary difference to measure (as opposed to who has favorable league image verses bad image).

Tim-4-Show

Slava,
West has not done especially well in Memphis. I don't know why anyone would expect that he could suddenly do magic (pun intended) here. Especially at his age, when he isn't going to have the same amount of energy.

Motivating today's players is a huge issue; money isn't nearly as much of a motivator as it used to be, because they get so much even if they are mediocre. So management needs to try and look for those who are self-motivated. I think that is a lot harder to detect when someone only plays a year (or less) of college.

Everything that goes wrong with the Lakers people find ways and means of blaming it on Kwame with the exception of Mike T. I wish the lakers would trade Kwame, hopefully the trade will push the lakers into the west elites. I believe Kwame will become extremely good in the coming years. With the body and quickness, that Bynum (supposed Laker savior) does not and will not have, I have no doubt about Kwame becoming a real force. It is rare finding athletic big men and that is what teams are looking for. All the talk about Kwame can't catch the ball is all in the past. He can catch the ball. God bless him.

lakerfaze, i remember Utah. kobe's come a long way. i agree with you 50/50. i don't think is coincidence that some players complement others better. i've been preaching, ad nauseum, that b-ball is a team sport. look at the Jazz, no a real true superstar (Boozer's a stud, but not a true superstar), but the team plays great TEAM ball. i know's it's the coaching staff's job, but kobe as leader needs to get his guys to play. if guys don't respect kobe (maybe that's the problem), then the TEAM suffers, while guys cruise during the season making lots of money and "driving high-end SUV's". most guys (not named Robert Horry) can't cruise during the season, then decide to turn it on when playoff time comes around.

EastCoastJessie, when some say make others better, it's an intangible. I refer to guys that see someone's weakness and strengths, then trys to compensate the weakness and develop the strengh. this is something that needs to be done during the regular season, kobe doesn't strike me as the type to help others. i've made plenty of jokes regarding kobe "me me" bryant and that's what i'm refering to. kobe can't be "me me" only anymore because he doesn't have Shaq bitching at him or guys like Shaw, Horry, Fox Fisher knowing what to do. besides Horry, guys like Fox, Fisher, Shaw, etc. didn't do very much until they came to the lakers lead by Shaq. now kobe's the man, so it's kobe's turn to prove he can win it all WITHOUT shaq. isn't that what kobe wanted in the first place, win without shaq? well, here's his chance.

Los Angeles is the home of the Lakers right? The Los Angeles LAKERS, right? The 13 time NBA WORLD CHAMPIONS LOS ANGELES LAKERS, right! I've been a fan of SHOWTIME ever since Ervin's arrival. That being said, when in our illustrious and highly successful history have we ever been a one pony, and given that I'm referring to Kobe, a one STALLION show? Even in our darkest times, post-Magic, we had at least 2 to three ALLSTARS. Ced, Nick, Eddie, remember those guys? The insanity has to stop. I find it hard to believe that the majority of Laker supporters, fans, and followers are dreaming, hoping and even begging for just ONE additional playmaker. No. That's not the Laker way. We field potential championship level teams. Not also-rans. Cupchak never earned the 5.6 million dollar contract he got to warm the bench as a Laker, and surely hasn't as General Manager. What he has done a good job at is, running our successful and proud franchise into the ground far better than the skipper of the Valdez. Not only by his unfathomable signings but also with his lack of credibility. West would have never done what Cupchak did to Payton. The same Glove that hit shot after shot after shop to help Miami win their first and only forseeable championship. No prime time player would ever want to deal us with him at the helm. As a result, the Lakers are depending on inexperienced second and third string players not to mention rookies to play significant roles on this team. That's pathetic. And most importantly unexcepable for the Lakers. That kind of approach might work for the developmental teams in the league such as the Grizzlies or the Hawks or even the up and coming Raptors. That's not how it's BEEN done here in LAKERLAND. And it will not be tolerated. Ridding the Lakers of Kupchak is priority number ONEa. Which should be done before the end of the playoffs. Then ridding the Lakers of Kupchak's horrible contracts is priority number ONEb. Thus restoring the Lakers to prominence is priority number ONEc. Buss deserves MORE. Phillip deserves MORE. KOBE deserves more. And the millions of Lakers fans WORLDWIDE deserve more.

exhelodrvr

I agree with you. We need to go out there and get players who are truly hungry to win... not some new kid on the block looking to buy his first mansion in L.A. I guess we can definitely say that about super-passionate KG.

We need guys who want to come to L.A. to win, not just for the privilege to wear a Laker jersey or say you were Kobe's teammate.

I really miss Derek Fisher. That was a guy who was a true professional. These stupid kids nowadays get paid millions of dollars to play the game and complain that they're not "starters".

EastCoastJessie,

my making others better arguement starts at the beginning of the season, not when the playoffs start. i agree with you that if the TEAM isn't playing well, it's encumbent on the star(s) to carry the team. it's too little too late now to try and get others involved for the lakers. that's why the lakers most likely won't win the series. my opinion is that good championship teams have balance (even the Shaq/Kobe lakers had good balance), then when the stars are needed, let's them shine (this is where kid kobe can explode if given the chance). Houston is a good example, i've never heard of anybody outside of T-Mac, Yao and Howard, but when i watch guys like Hayes take the charge at end and "skip to my lou" Alston steal the ball, i'm thinking to myself, these guys play hard for one another. T-Mac said after the game, it's his job to get everyone involved and it's on him for the team to advance. T-Mac is becoming a leader AND a winner. I'm rooting for Houston to advance because i appreciate guys like T-Mac's contribution to the NBA.